Committed businesswoman scoops prize in small shop

LETTER OF THE DAY: Claws out over Santa

DELIGHTED Roxanne Morris was all smiles as she picked up a trophy as reward for winning The News Small Retailer of the Year award.

The owner of Rokii, a fashion shop in Victoria Road South, Southsea, beat almost 40 other nominees to the prize.

The 33-year-old said: ‘I didn’t think I would win, especially when I saw which other businesses were in my category.

‘But I won and I’m very pleased.

‘It was unexpected and because you are in here every day, all day, you don’t really know what people think. For people to take the time and vote was reassuring. I have never won a trophy for anything before.’

As previously reported, it hasn’t always been easy for the businesswoman who had to move in with her mum and ride a bike to save money – but now things are on the up.

And she said one of her key aims this year is to work harder than ever before.

‘I was already feeling positive about this year, but now I am going to work extra hard and make the shop better than it was,’ she said.

Roxanne puts her success down to being able to cater for men and women of all ages with everything from clothes to accessories.